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There is a lot of complaints coming in that dog walkers are not picking their poo up after their dogs have fouled the pavements here in Wednesfield North.

I am told that there is a particular problem around the Sandy Crescent, Ashmore Ave and Bargery road area of Ashmore Park. I would like to remind pet owners that it is against the law to allow your dog to foul public areas including parks.

You could even be stopped, to see if you are carrying two bags. to deal with your dogs mess!

Please if you are a pet owner please pick up after your dogs fouled.

I have asked the Local Authority to inspect the roads/footpath mentioned here.

Kevin B. Garner After Coppice he studied at Wolverhampton Polytechnic for his Degree in Engineering. Today he is the Head and Principal Lecturer Of Department Architecture and Design. Over the years he has done much improve and develope the department at home and abroad. Kevin still lives in Wolverhampton and continues to work at the Wolverhampton University

This year has been a busy year for these services and the issues they have thrown up in 2015.

National Grid – Acorn Road -Noisy and at times more than annoying for residents!

The largest number of complaints I have received are about issues in this order –

Top of the complaints people have made this year places complaints about the National Grid and the noise and mess they have made whilst replacing Gas infrastructure on Ashmore Park. Also up there is the complaints I have received about Highway Safety on Griffith Drive – These were the top two issues residents complained to me about during 2015 when it comes to this section.

The second most numerous complaints’ I have received relate to Highway maintenance issues and Potholes in particular! – Alongside those issues sit Car Parking, and grass verges and the two are often linked together!

Public transport also features but low down in the list for popular complaints, yet alongside people’s complaints about trees. Interestingly most people contact me when talking about trees to either have them lopped or felled! Though I have had one case this year where residents have requested a tree!

Other complaints in this sector but just the single types of complaint were about travellers accessing land across highways, Overgrown Cemetery, Removal of Bonfire residue, Abandoned vehicles, fly tipping, bikes,

I also received complaints about low hanging branches on trees in Ashmore /Acorn Ave, I got the matter addressed, and during the course of the year there were many similar issues about trees which were planted in the Highways. Also in the same month I had complaints about the new LED lights placed in Orchard Road for ‘flickering’. Wolverhampton Highways Chiefs told me that “Our Electrician has been out to Orchard Road today and changed several Cell’s after checking nearly all 20 lighting columns, hopefully this will have eliminated the problem of the flickering lights.”

During January Councillors were informed that Chris Barker would be leaving Highways and the City Council. Chris has always been a very responsive Officer, and I personally was sad to hear this news. I sent Chris a message wishing him well in his new career outside the City Council. I was also informed by Highways that the minor carriageway works that I had requested for the Linthouse Estate had now been carried out in -Janine Avenue – carriageway -Jayne Close – carriageway -Measham Way – footway -Prestwood Avenue – kerbing -Roderick Drive – footway and carriageway -Springhill Road – footway -Sudbury Close – kerbing -Thomas Mason Close – kerbing – Whitehouse Avenue – footway- Linthouse Lane – footway – Brailsford Close – footway and carriageway -Ridge Lane – reactive works to carriageway and nu-phalt works to carriageway.

I was requested to help with the removal of an abandoned vehicle in Kitchen Lane.

I raised the issue of Griffith Drive and its safety record following a car chase and damage to a wall. I also wrote about the access way into the Park in Russell close because of its dangerous surface to pedestrians.

There were also complaints in February about damaged grass verges in Linthouse Lane. with Government austerity measures biting and following Government cuts in funding the Public realm team wrote back “The Public Realm team, who maintain grass verges, have advised that they are not prepared to undertake repairs to damaged verges where the underlying problem still exists because any repairs will be destroyed almost immediately. Verges are not regarded as places where people are expected to walk so they are not required to be maintained to the same standard as footways in terms f trip hazards, potholes, etc. We are keeping a schedule of problem locations for consideration if/when any funding becomes available in the future, and I will ensure that this location gets added to that schedule.”

I arranged street lighting in Hodson Close, where bungalows had been subjected to burglary and other nuisances riding bikes and motorcycles on a pedestrian footway.. I also had complaints about cars parking on footpaths, all of which was reported to the Local Police.

March –High winds started the month and blew a tree down in Johnsons Ave which I reported. I also reported the boundary fence being down between Walsall and Wolverhampton in Simmons Road.

More Pot holes reported this time in the Park Way public highway on Ashmore Park.

I requested the Authority, to introduce some dropped kerb to the pavements taking people with disabilities into the Ashmore Park because it is difficult for those with wheelchairs or motorised buggies to access. Currently they find it difficult to access the footpath and have to mix in with cars It’s not good, and it is a health and safety issue. there was a Lot of concerns still about parking around Woodened Primary school and the school gates, and on the grass verge. Complaints came in about Woodend school and parents parking which was highlighted. Not only is this dangerous for other road users it is also churning up grass verges. Is there a chance that we can get the grass verge protected or re-established? In March there were two further accidents on Griffith drive, one a car hit a public highways sign and smashed a tree out of the ground. The second was a minor accident hitting and damaging a car then fleeing.

Complaints about the High St in Wednesfield constantly come up in Public Meetings during this year. Where the Highway regulations are ignored by many motorists. Residents feel this issue is also an important safety issue. All the Wednesfield Councillors are in conversation with Highway Chiefs about this issue.

I just want to draw your attention to the fact that there is a floating Pop -Up Market taking place at Bentley Bridge just in time for Christmas! I have been informed that your custom is wanted!

There are four boats trading for the first time ever during this Christmas period. I do hope Wednesfield folk will turn up and trade with them over this week end.

I am reliably informed that a “Santa Paws grotto will be open this weekend at Bentley Bridge. £5 includes a doggie mince pie, a doggie Xmas gift & a donation to a doggie charity plus chance for furpals to sit inside the grotto.”

Also in attendance will be trading crafts from Morgana & Here Be Dragons floating emporium (on their first ever visit to Bentley Bridge.).

I am keen that Wednesfield residents turn up and speak with these traders who have travelled many miles through the Inland Waterway system to be here…trading in Wednesfield!

Many Narrow Boat and other pleasure craft owners will know that I am trying very hard to ensure that this canal at this Village of Wednesfield is not only welcoming but relevant to your leisure journeys, your trading requirements and that we are using the heightened interest in our canal to drive improvements to the tow path, the trade in the Village, and of course the enhanced understanding of the natural world that the canal serves.

Earlier this year I ran a survey asking if you could tell me if you travelled on this canal, if you stayed overnight and I asked a lot of you quietly! ( How much you spent on re- provisions entertainment, leisure food etc!)

From all the info you gave me and I thank you for that…I have gleaned that from January through to end of August/ that there were some 80 movements on our WE, 57 boats overnighted at Bentley Bridge, and on average a £100 was spent by boats whilst here.

Now I wonder if you could be so good and tell me

Have you travelled on the Wyrley & Essington canal through Wednesfield in September, and October 2015

Have you overnighted in Wednesfield and if so when did you do so (during these months only please)

Have you had a ‘pop-up’ market during these months ( If so would you tell me how many people you estimate attended?

This will be really useful information. What the canal lacks is some good relevant statistics. I only ask these questions so that we can build a picture of what is taking place here in Wednesfield.

If you would like to email me with your comments my email address is email@philbateman.com Otherwise I am very happy to build what is happening across these public pages.

I am making a plea to all my friends and relatives, constituents and work place colleagues. Yesterday I took part in a Cycle Speedway Race for the Charity “Breast Cancer Now” It was well organised , and whilst I did not win the race…..I did do my very best!

I would like to appeal to you all, to consider making a donation to my collection. Over many, many, years, I have always tried to help people, individuals and others. Can you help me now and make a small donation to ‘Just Giving’. If you can follow this link it will take you to the https://www.justgiving.com/Phil-Bateman3